our solidarity has to be with israel. this is a point where israel has been under attack for a long period of time and nothing has solved it. also, during this period of time, i think the importance of achieving a two-state solution really cannot be underestimated. there's going to be no more better partner than mahmoud abbas and i think to a great extent, the inability to enable israel and the palestinians to come together, perhaps this will provide that opportunity. perhaps the secretary of state will play a very dominant role. after all, her husband came the closest of anybody to establishing a two-state solution. so she knows exactly where all of this stands and what might be able to solve what has been an historic and very difficult situation. >> part of the problem for mahmoud abbas is that he's being increasingly seen to be marginalized. hamas seem to be the emerging power there with more control perhaps over the body of palestinians, and he is seen as somebody slightly out of touch from where the real action is. n